Medical software download to mobile phone

ABSTRACT

A method for monitoring medical data is disclosed, the method being applicable to a system comprising a portable medical device, a mobile communications device, and, optionally, a medical care server. The portable medical device and the mobile communications device each comprise at least one interface for data transfer. The method comprises a step of establishing a download link between the mobile communications device and a download server. The method comprises a step of selecting an appropriate communication software package from a plurality of communication software packages for controlling data transfer between the mobile communications device and the portable medical device from the download server. Further, the method comprises a download step for downloading communication software packages from the download server to the mobile communications device and a step of installation of the communication software package on the mobile communications device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to and is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 17/038,823, entitled “MEDICAL SOFTWAREDOWNLOAD TO MOBILE PHONE,” filed Sep. 30, 2020, which claims priority toU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/722,067, now U.S. Pat. No.10,803,989, entitled “MEDICAL SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD TO MOBILE PHONE,” filedOct. 2, 2017, which claims priority to and is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/911,142, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,811,633,entitled “MEDICAL SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD TO MOBILE PHONE,” filed Aug. 5,2008, which is a national stage entry of PCT Application No.PCT/EP2006/061554, entitled “MEDICAL SOFTWARE DOWNLOAD TO MOBILE PHONE,”filed Apr. 12, 2006, the entire disclosures of which being herebyexpressly incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to a method for monitoring medical data using aportable medical device and a mobile communication device. Thedisclosure further relates to a system for monitoring medical data, thesystem comprising a portable medical device and a mobile communicationsdevice. The method and the system according to the disclosure may beapplied, e.g., for monitoring a glucose level information, a bloodpressure information, a cholesterol level information, and/or acoagulation information, or may be applied to information transferconcerning an insulin medication. The method and the system according tothe disclosure may be applied within the framework of a homecare medicalsystem, e.g. a homecare medical system comprising one or more healthcarecenters.

BACKGROUND

In many fields of medical treatment and healthcare, a monitoring ofcertain body functions is required. Thus, e.g., for patients sufferingfrom diabetes, a regular check of the blood glucose level forms anessential part of the daily routine. The blood glucose level has to bedetermined fast and reliably several times per day, in order to initiatea responsive medication in case certain limits are exceeded. In ordernot to unduly disturb the daily routine of the patient, in many casesportable medical devices are used. A large number of portable medicaldevices for monitoring various body functions are commerciallyavailable.

Nevertheless, the use of portable medical devices involves some risks,which are mainly due to the fact that the handling of the portablemedical devices is sometimes complicated, which, mainly for elderlypatients or infants, may lead to handling failures and, thus, to therisk of insufficient or even wrong monitoring results. Further, sincemost of the patients handling the portable medical devices have notundergone a medical training, the interpretation of the medical datagained by using the portable medical devices is not always easy.Therefore, often, the patients are required to see their doctors or anyother health consultants in short time-intervals on a regular basis.

In order to reduce the frequency of necessary visits to the doctor oreven hospitalizations, the idea of home-care has gained popularity overthe recent years. Thus, e.g. the availability of mobile communicationsdevices, such as cell phones, as well as the omnipresence ofcommunication networks, such as the internet or wireless communicationnetworks, has led to the development of medical care systems allowingfor monitoring patients at home, using a portable medical device and adata transfer system for transferring medical data to a health carecenter.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,661 discloses a patient monitoring system whichincludes a portable device and a central station. The portable deviceincludes an ECG and a photo-plethysmograph connected to the patient, anarrhythmia analysis apparatus, an expert system for determining if apre-established critical parameter set has been exceeded, and a wirelesswide-area communication device for automatically contacting the centralstation via a public cellular phone network when the critical parameterset has been exceeded. When the central station is contacted, thepatient's ECG waveforms, measurements, and trends are sent to thecentral monitoring station and a 2-way voice channel between the patientand the central station is automatically opened.

The components of the system have to be adapted by integrating suitablehardware and software modifications into standard devices, in order tobe applied within the mobile patient monitoring system. Thus, for many“every day” purposes, such as blood pressure monitoring or blood glucoselevel monitoring, the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,544,661exceeds the frame of allowable costs for a health monitoring system.

WO 97/28736 discloses a method for monitoring the health of a patient byutilizing measurements. The method comprises a supply of the results ofthe measurements to a person treating the patient via a communicationsdevice utilizing a wireless data transmission link to a data processingsystem available to the person monitoring the patient's health. Thepatient's health is monitored by means of the data stored in the dataprocessing system. Specifically, WO 97/28736 relates to the self-careand monitoring of the health of a diabetes patient.

Similarly, EP 0970655 A1 discloses a portable apparatus of reduced size,which has an analyzer for analyzing the glucose in the blood and forproviding a series of values. The values can be processed in situ by amicroprocessor and displayed on a screen of a personal computerconnected to the glucose analyzer. The telematic control system forpatients provided with the apparatus would provide that the datacalculated in the portable apparatus would be transmitted to a centralunit for the remote interpretation of the data through a mobiletelephone which is also interconnected with the microprocessor and theanalyzer. The system disclosed in EP 0970655 A1 is made up of four basicelements: a central unit, a laboratory terminal, a doctor's unit, and apatient's terminal. The patient's terminal is made up of a blood glucoseauto analyzer, a compatible personal computer and a digital mobiletelephone apparatus (GSM), which are integrated in a single apparatus.

Both the system disclosed in WO 97/28736, and the system disclosed in EP0970655 A1 utilize devices of every day use, such as personal computersand digital mobile phones, in order to exchange medical informationbetween the patient and a health care center. Nevertheless, the systemsdisclosed in WO 97/28736 and EP 0970655 A1 still involve severaldisadvantages. Thus, the mobile digital phones have to be specificallyadapted, in order to be applicable within the health monitoring system.Thus, the mobile phone has to be equipped with suitable software and/orhardware, in order to be able to communicate with the blood glucose autoanalyzer. For this purpose, in many cases, the mobile digital phone hasto be shipped to a specialized health care provider, in order to bedisassembled and in order to, e.g., have a software flashed into thecell phone's EEPROM. Alternatively or additionally, the software can beprogrammed by exchanging the SIM-card using a new SIM-card containing asuitable software. This method is rather time-consuming and costly.Further, the flexibility of this method is rather low, since the servicelifetime of devices such as digital mobile phones or certain medicalmonitoring devices in many cases does not exceed several months. In thiscase, after replacing the digital mobile phone or the portable medicaldevice, the routine of programming the portable medical device and/orthe digital mobile phone has to be repeated, thus further increasingcosts. Further, the systems disclosed in the state of the art, are notdesigned to be “open” to new “members” of the system, such as newportable medical devices. Therefore, in most cases, only certain pairsof portable medical devices and digital mobile phones can be combined.

SUMMARY

The method according to the disclosure is applicable for monitoringmedical data using a portable medical device and a mobile communicationsdevice, each of these devices comprising at least one interface for datatransfer. In this context, the expression “monitoring” comprises a widevariety of meanings. Thus, monitoring may comprise an exchange of data,including medical data, an evaluation and/or validation of data, (pre-)processing of data, visualization of data, bringing data to someone'sattention, and/or initiating certain processes, such as warningfunctions or medical treatment, in case predetermined conditions arefulfilled by the data.

The mobile communications device may comprise basically any type ofmobile communications device or any combination of mobile communicationdevices. The mobile communications device may comprise a mobile phoneand/or a personal digital assistant (PDA) and/or a handheld computer.The mobile communications device is equipped to communicate via a mobilecommunications network.

The portable medical device may comprise basically any portable medicaldevice, including a medical device for monitoring a patient's medicaldata and/or applying a medical treatment to a patient. Further, acombination of portable medical devices may be used. The portablemedical device may comprise a glucose meter, such as a blood glucosemeter, and/or a cholesterol meter, and/or a blood pressure meter, and/ora coagulation meter, and/or an insulin pump.

The method comprises the following steps, which do not have to beperformed in the order given below. Further steps not listed below maybe performed additionally. Steps may be performed repeatedly or severalsteps may be performed in parallel.

In one embodiment, a download link is established between the mobilecommunications device and a download server during the first processstep. The download link comprises a wireless download link, e.g. using apublic mobile communications network, such as a digital wirelessnetwork, e.g. a GSM network. The initiation of the establishment of thedownload link between the mobile communications device and the downloadserver may be performed by several possible ways. Thus, the patient maycall a pre-determined telephone number, in order to initiate theestablishment of the download link. Further, an electronic message, suchas a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Push Message may be transmittedto the mobile communications device, e.g. by the download server, theelectronic message comprising a download address defining a downloadlocation on the download server. This download address may, e.g.comprise an Internet Protocol (IP) address and/or a Uniform ResourceLocater (URL). The download server may be part of a health care centeror may be part of a server's system provided by a mobile communicationsdevice manufacturer and/or a portable medical device manufacturer.

In a second step, a communication software package is chosen from aplurality of communication software packages for controlling a datatransfer between a mobile communications device and a portable medicaldevice stored on the download server. This choice of a communicationsoftware package depends on the type of mobile communications deviceand/or on the type of portable medical device used by the patient(user). Thus, e.g. the user may select from the list of mobilecommunications device types and a list of types of portable medicaldevices. Alternatively, or additionally, the type of the user's mobilecommunications device may be detected automatically by the downloadserver. For this purpose, the method may include a step of transmitting“type information” comprising information of the type of the mobilecommunications device to the download server. This embodiment of thedisclosure allows for the download server to automatically narrow thechoice of communication software packages offered to the user, in a way,that only communication software packages suited for the user's type ofmobile communications device are offered. In this case, the user onlyhas to select from a list of portable medical devices, in order todownload a communication software package suited for the communicationbetween the user's mobile communications device and the user's portablemedical device.

The communication software package comprises a software package, e.g. aself-installing software package, for controlling the data transferbetween the mobile communications device and the portable medicaldevice. Therefore, as denoted above, both the mobile communicationsdevice and the portable medical device each comprise at least oneinterface for data transfer. This interface comprises at least oneinterface for wireless data transfer. Thus, e.g. an infrared datatransfer, using an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) standard link, canbe used. Alternatively or additionally, a radio frequency data transferlink may be used, comprising an interface for Bluetooth data transferand/or for near field communication (NFC) data transfer. Nevertheless,alternatively or additionally, hardware-based data transfer means may beused, such as a data transfer by communication cables or interfacecables. Thus, using the communication software package, data may beexchanged between the portable medical device and the mobilecommunications device uni-directionally or bi-directionally. Thus,medical data can be transmitted from the portable medical device to themobile communications device. In turn, control signals, such as signalsindicating a command for starting a measurement, as well as other data,can be transmitted from the mobile communications device to the portablemedical device.

Further, the method according to the disclosure comprises a step ofdownloading the communication software package from the download serverto the mobile communications device. The communication software packagemay e.g. be stored in a storage medium within the mobile communicationsdevice and/or on a separate computer device. In a further step, thecommunication software package is installed on the mobile communicationsdevice. As explained above, the installation step may be performedautomatically or may involve a user-initiated action. Thus, e.g. beforeinstalling the communication software package, the user may be askedpermission to initiate the installation, e.g. by activating a certainkey of the mobile communications device.

The method according to the disclosure offers a high flexibilityregarding the choice of the mobile communications device and the choiceof the portable medical device. The patient or user may easily switchbetween various types or models of devices. In case of a device change,the user only has to download a new communication software package fromthe download server, in order to allow for the communication between themobile communications device and the portable medical device he intendsto use. Hardware changes may not be required, since many portablymedical devices and mobile communications devices are using standardizedinterfaces, such as IrDA interfaces. Thus, a shipment of the mobilecommunications device to a provider, in order to exchange softwaremodules and in order to adapt the mobile communications device forcommunication with a specific portable medical device, is not necessaryany longer.

For downloading the communication software package from the downloadserver, simple download procedures can be used, such as procedures knownfrom downloading ring tones to cell phones from a provider's server.Thus, the method according to the disclosure significantly increases theapplicability of mobile health care systems and, thus, reduces healthcare costs and improves patient's monitoring in everyday life.

The method according to the disclosure may be extended or improved bymany ways. Thus, the method may comprise a step during which at leastone first medical information is exchanged between the portable medicaldevice and the mobile communications device by means of data transfer.Thus, at least one diagnostic information may be exchanged, for exampleby transmission from the portable medical device to the mobilecommunications device. The first medical information may compriseseveral types of information. Thus, as described above, the datatransfer may be unidirectional in each direction between the mobilecommunications device and the portable medical device or may bebidirectional. Thus, the mobile communications device may be used inorder to initiate measurements and/or to program the portable medicaldevice. Further, medical information may be transmitted from theportable medical device, such as measurement information of medicalmeasurements. Thus, a glucose level information, such as a blood glucoselevel information and/or a blood pressure information, and/or acholesterol level information, and/or a coagulation information may betransmitted. Further, a measuring time, such as a point of time relatedto a measurement of a specific medical information, may be transmitted.Further, a dose information, e.g. a dose information for an insulinmedication, such as a dose information for programming an insulin pump,may be transmitted, in this case in the direction from the mobilecommunications device to the portable medical device.

The at least one first medical information may be stored in a databaseon the mobile communications device. Thus, the mobile communicationsdevice may comprise a database software. This database software may,e.g. be downloaded from the same download server as the communicationsoftware package or may be downloaded from a separate download server.The way of downloading may be similar to the downloading of thecommunication software package as listed above. Further, the databasesoftware may even be part of the communication software packagedownloaded from the download server.

Additionally or alternatively to the database software, other types ofsoftware algorithms may be applied to the first medical information.Thus, at least one evaluation algorithm may be applied by the mobilecommunications device to the at least one first medical information.Similarly to the database software, this evaluation algorithm may beseparate from or may be part of the previously listed software modules,such as the communication software package and/or the database software.Further, the at least one evaluation algorithm may be downloaded fromthe same download server or from a separate download server, within thesame or a separate download step.

The at least one evaluation algorithm may e.g. provide an algorithm forprocessing or pre-processing the at least one first medical information.This processing may include a comparison of the at least one firstmedical information with certain user-specific limits, such as acomparison of blood glucose levels with pre-determined blood glucoselevel limits, and, additionally, may comprise a warning function warninga user in case certain levels are exceeded. Further, the processing ofdata may comprise averaging, filtering, and other similar algorithms.

Further, separately or being part of the evaluation algorithm, at leastone medical user information can graphically and/or acoustically bepresented to a patient by the mobile communications device. Thus, the atleast one medical user information may be graphically displayed on adisplay, such a display integrated into the mobile communicationsdevice. Alternatively or additionally, data can be transferred to aseparate computer, such as data stored in the database, which may bedownloaded to a personal computer or a laptop, e.g. for the purpose offurther evaluation and/or storage.

The method according to the disclosure may further be extended by addinga step of establishing an upload link between the mobile communicationsdevice and a medical care server. The medical care server may beidentical or be part of the download server or may comprise a separateserver. As an example, the medical care server may be part of a serversystem located at a hospital or a health care center. Thus, afterestablishing the upload link between the mobile communications deviceand the medical care server, at least one second medical information maybe exchanged between the mobile communications device and the medicalcare server. This at least one second medical information exchangedbetween the mobile communications device and the medical care server maybe identical to the first medical information described above. It mayfurther be an extraction from the at least one first medicalinformation, such as a selection from the first medical informationconsidered to be relevant. Thus, the at least one first medicalinformation may be pre-processed for the purpose of data-reduction, inorder to reduce the amount of data transferred between the mobilecommunications device and the medical care server.

Additionally or alternatively, the at least one second medicalinformation exchanged between the medical care server and the mobilecommunications device may comprise additional data, such as a useridentification number or a similar data. Similarly to the communicationbetween the mobile communications device and the portable medicaldevice, the data exchange between the mobile communications device andthe medical care server may be unidirectional in each direction or maybe bidirectional. Thus, e.g. the at least one second medical informationmay comprise an information transmitted from the medical care server tothe mobile communications device, indicating for the patient to consulthis doctor, e.g. in case part of the at least one second medicalinformation transmitted from the mobile communications device to themedical care server indicates that a critical medical condition hasoccurred.

The exchange of the at least one second medical information between themobile communications device and the medical care server may, e.g.,comprise an exchange of a Short Message Service (SMS) message. Thus, theamount of data exchange between the mobile communications device and themedical care server may be reduced to a minimum, by using standard SMSmessages, whereby communication channel resources are freed.

The embodiment of the exchange of the at least one second medicalinformation between the mobile communications device and the medicalcare server allows a full integration of the patient into a mobilehealth care system. The at least one medical care server may beaccessible by the patient's doctor, in order for the doctor to accessinformation on the health status of the patient at any time or anywhere.Additionally or alternatively, the medical care server may compriseevaluation means, such as evaluation algorithms, and/or databaseapplications, in order to allow for e.g. a long term monitoring of thepatient's health. Further, the health care server may transmitinformation to the mobile communications device on medical treatment,e.g. in response to a measured health condition, such as information onan insulin dose or an automatic warning. The insulin dose information orother medication information may be transmitted from the medical careserver to the mobile communications device and, successively, from themobile communications device to the portable medical device. Thus, themethod allows for an ultra-fast reaction, which may occur automaticallyto critical changes of the patient's health conditions. Thus, the methodaccording to the disclosure reduces the health care risk and reduces thecost for health care by reducing the necessity of frequenthospitalization.

Within the spirit and the scope of the disclosure, a second method formonitoring medical data using a portable medical device and mobilecommunications device is proposed. The portable medical device and themobile communications device may be equipped as in the first methoddescribed above. The second method according to the disclosure comprisesthe following steps, which, again, do not have to be performed in theorder given below. Further, additional steps not listed below may beperformed and steps may be performed repeatedly and/or in parallel.

The method comprises a step of establishing a download link between themobile communications device and a download server. Further, the methodcomprises choosing an upload communication software package from aplurality of upload communication software packages for uploading atleast one third medical information from the mobile communicationsdevice to a medical care server. The choice of the upload communicationsoftware package depends on the type of mobile communications deviceused by the patient. Again, the method may comprise an automatictransmission of an information concerning the type of mobilecommunications device used by the patient to the download server, asdescribed above. In the latter case, the download server mayautomatically select an appropriate communication software packagesuited for the type of mobile communications device used by the patient.Alternatively, the patient may manually select or input the type ofmobile communications device he is using.

This upload communication software package is downloaded to the mobilecommunications device and, as described above, installed automaticallyor initiated by a separate user action. This second method according tothe disclosure allows for the user to upload at least one third medicalinformation to the medical care server. This at least one third medicalinformation may, as described for the at least one second medicalinformation, comprise part of the at least one first medical informationand/or the at least one second medical information, may be identical tothis information, and/or may comprise additional information. Thus, theat least third medical information may comprise a glucose levelinformation, a blood pressure information, a cholesterol levelinformation, a coagulation information, a measuring time, a doseinformation for insulin indication, and/or other types of information.The transmission of the at least one third medical information maycomprise a transmission of a Short Message Service (SMS) message,similar to the first method according to the disclosure described above.

The difference between the first method according to the disclosure andthe second method according to the disclosure resides within thegeneration of the at least one second medical information and the atleast one third medical information, respectively. The second methodaccording to the disclosure does not necessarily have to comprise a stepof automatically exchanging information between the mobilecommunications device and the portable medical device. Thus, for thesecond method according to the disclosure, the user might manually inputdata into the mobile communications device for transmission to themedical care server. The user might obtain some medical information bysimply reading an output value of the portable medical device and maymanually input this value into the mobile communications device fortransmission to the medical care server.

The software package downloaded from the server may comprise a softwarepackage for communication between the mobile communications device andthe portable medical device and/or the communication software packagefor uploading the at least one third medical information from the mobilecommunications device to the medical care server. Thus, both methodsaccording to the disclosure support the idea of mobile health care andhome care.

Further, the disclosure includes the system for monitoring medical data,which can, e.g. be applied with the methods according to the disclosuredisclosed above. The system comprises a portable medical device, amobile communications device, and a download server, as described above.The portable medical device and the mobile communications device eachcomprise at least one interface for data transfer, such as for wirelessdata transfer, e.g. of the types described above. The mobilecommunications device and the download server comprise means forestablishing a download link, such as a wireless download link, betweenthe mobile communications device and the download server. The expression“means” may include hardware means and/or software means, e.g. means fortransmitting data via a wireless telecommunications network, as well assuitable modem connections including software.

On the download server, a plurality of communication software packagesfor controlling data transfer, such as wireless data transfer, between amobile communications device and a portable medical device are stored.These communication software packages may comprise communicationsoftware packages as described above with the method according to thedisclosure.

Further, the mobile communications device and/or the download servercomprise means for exchanging information on which type of mobilecommunications device and/or which type of portable medical device isused by the user, as well as means for choosing an appropriatecommunication software package from the plurality of communicationsoftware packages accordingly. The means for exchanging information onthe type of mobile communications device and/or the type of portablemedical device may include hardware and software means, such as memoriesfor storing information on the type of mobile communications deviceand/or the type of portable medical device, may comprise a softwareoffering a list of types of mobile communications devices and/or typesof portable medical devices to the user, and/or may comprise means forautomatic transmission of an information on the type of mobilecommunications device used by the user.

The system according to the disclosure may further comprise softwaremeans for performing one or both of the methods according to thedisclosure as described above. Thus the disclosure includes a computerprogram comprising program means for performing one or both of themethods according to the disclosure as described above, while thecomputer program is being executed on a computer or a computer network,the computer or computer network being part of a mobile communicationsdevice, a download server, and/or a medical care server. The programmeans may be stored on storage medium readable to a computer. Further,the disclosure includes a storage medium, wherein a data structure isstored on the storage medium and wherein the data structure is adaptedto perform one or both of the methods according to the description givenabove after having been loaded into a main and/or working storage of acomputer or of a computer network, the computer or computer networkbeing part of the mobile communications device, a download server,and/or a medical care server.

Furthermore, an embodiment of the disclosure includes a computer programproduct having program code means, wherein the program code means arestored on a storage medium, for performing one or both of the methodsdisclosed above. If the program code means are executed on a computer oron a computer network, the computer or computer network being part of amobile communications device, a download server, and/or a medical careserver. Therein, a computer program product is meant to be a tradableproduct. It may exist in any viable form, e.g. on paper and/or acomputer-readable data carrier, and may be distributed via a computernetwork.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For more complete understanding of the present disclosure, reference isestablished to the following description made in connection withaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a system for monitoring medical data using a cell phone anda blood glucose meter;

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the first method according to thedisclosure for monitoring medical data; and

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the second method according to thedisclosure for monitoring medical data.

Although the drawings represent embodiments of various features andcomponents according to the present disclosure, the drawings are notnecessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order tobetter illustrate and explain the present disclosure. Theexemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of thedisclosure, and such exemplifications are not to be construed aslimiting the scope of the disclosure in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of thedisclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings, which are described below. It will nevertheless beunderstood that no limitation of the scope of the disclosure is therebyintended. The disclosure includes any alterations and furthermodifications in the illustrated devices and described methods andfurther applications of the principles of the disclosure, which wouldnormally occur to one skilled in the art to which the disclosurerelates. Moreover, the embodiments were selected for description toenable one of ordinary skill in the art to practice the disclosure.

In FIG. 1 , an exemplary embodiment of a system 110 for monitoringmedical data is depicted. In this exemplary embodiment, the system 110comprises a mobile phone 112 and a blood glucose meter 114. The mobilephone 112 comprises means 116 for transmitting and receiving data withina mobile communications network 118, e.g. a GSM network. Further, themobile phone 112 comprises at least one microcomputer 120 with storagemeans, as well as a display 122 and keys 124. Further, the mobile phone112 comprises a standard IrDA interface 126.

In the embodiment according to FIG. 1 , the blood glucose meter 114constitutes the portable medical device of the system 110. Otherportable medical devices may be used additionally or alternatively. Theblood glucose meter 114 in this example is a commercially availablestandard blood glucose meter for electrochemical blood glucose levelmeasurements using a test strip 128. The blood glucose meter 114comprises electronic components and at least one microcomputer 130 forevaluating the blood glucose level measurements. Further, the bloodglucose meter 114 comprises several keys 132 as well as a display 134for displaying medical information and other user information.Furthermore, the blood glucose meter 114 comprises a standard IrDAinterface 136. As described above, other types of interfaces than IrDAinterfaces 126, 136 may be used, such as e.g., interfaces using aninterface cable for connecting the mobile phone 112 and the bloodglucose meter 114. Nevertheless, the wireless IrDA interfaces 126, 136allow for setting up a wireless infrared connection 138 between themobile phone 112 and the blood glucose meter 114, thus avoiding thenecessity for the patient to carry an interface cable.

Using the means 116 for wireless communication (also referred to hereinas a “data transceiver”), mobile phone 112 is equipped to establish awireless connection 140 with the mobile communications network 118.Thus, the mobile phone 112 is equipped to establish a connection withother networks connected to the mobile communications network 118, inthe embodiment according to FIG. 1 with the internet 142, which issymbolically depicted in FIG. 1 . Thus, the mobile phone 112 mayestablish a first connection with a download server 146 connected to theinternet 142, and/or a second connection 148 to a medical care server150. The download server 146 and the medical care server 150 do notnecessarily have to be separate servers, but may belong to one and thesame server system or a network of servers. Both servers 146 and 150 maycomprise typical server means, which may comprise storage means, database means, evaluation software means, and/or means for connecting tothe internet 142, e.g. modem means. These typical server means are notexplicitly depicted in FIG. 1 .

The medical care server 150 in this exemplary embodiment according toFIG. 1 is connected to a doctor's unit 152, in FIG. 1 depicted as amobile computer, such as a laptop. Alternatively or additionally,handheld computers or palmtops may be used, or even computer systemscomprising a second mobile communications device such as a doctor'smobile phone. The connection between the doctor's unit 152 and themedical care server 150 may comprise a virtual private network (VPN)154, which allows a fast and secure access from the doctor's unit 152 todata stored on the medical care server 150. Further, from the doctor'sunit 152, even a connection may be made to the mobile phone 112, inorder to transmit data to or receive data from the mobile phone 112 ofthe patient. Thus, a doctor may e.g. evaluate medical data sent by themobile phone 112 and may in turn respond by sending data on potentialmedical counter actions, such as data on optimum medications.

In FIG. 2 , an embodiment of the first method according to thedisclosure as described above is depicted. As previously explained, thesteps depicted in this figure do not necessarily have to be taken in theorder depicted in FIG. 2 , additional steps may be taken, and steps maybe taken repeatedly or in parallel. In the following, the methodaccording to FIG. 2 will be described, for exemplary purposes only, inconnection with the system 110 according to FIG. 1 . Nevertheless, themethod may be applied to other systems for monitoring medical data.

In a first step 210, a patient (user) sends a first SMS via the mobilecommunications network 118 to a predetermined phone number. Thus, theuser indicates his interest in starting a download process. This phonenumber may be the phone number of a service center, which, e.g. maycomprise the download server 146 or may be part of the download server146. As a response to this first SMS, in step 212 a WAP Push Message issent to the patient's cell phone 112. As described above, this WAP PushMessage may contain download information, such as the download address,e.g. the internet address of the download server 146. The WAP PushMessage may be transmitted by the download server 146 or by any othersystem.

In step 214, the user opens the WAP Push Message, e.g. by simplyselecting the message on the display 122 and activating a key 124. As aconsequence, in step 216 the mobile phone 112 automatically navigates tothe download server 146 and starts a download and setup process. In step218, the information on the type of the user's mobile phone 112, such asan information on the mobile phone's 112 manufacturer and/or the modelof the mobile phone 112, is automatically transmitted to the downloadserver 146. Consequently, a software installed on the download server146 narrows down the number of communication packages which are suitedto be used by the patient.

In step 220, a list of types of blood glucose meters and/or otherportable medical devices is presented to the patient, e.g. bytransmitting this list from the download server 146 to the mobile phone112 and by displaying this list on the display 122. The user selects thetype of portable medical device, specifically the type of blood glucosemeter 114 he intends to use, e.g. by selecting this type of bloodglucose meter 114 from the list displayed on the display 122 andactivating one specific key of the keys 124, e.g. an “Enter” key. Thus,a suitable communication software package stored on the download server146 is selected, which allows for a communication between the mobilephone 112 and the blood glucose meter 114, e.g. via the infraredconnection 138.

In step 224, permission is asked from the user to download the selectedsoftware package and to install the software package on themicrocomputer 120 of the mobile phone 112. Consequently, if the userindicates his permission, e.g. by activating a predetermined key 124 ofthe mobile phone 112, the download from the download server 146 to themobile phone 112 via the first connection 144 (download connection) isperformed. This download may comprise, as indicated, the download of acommunication software package allowing for a communication between themobile phone 112 and the blood glucose meter 114. Further softwarepackages may be downloaded, such as a software package allowing forcommunication between the mobile phone 112 and the medical care server150, e.g. via the second connection 148. Further software packages maybe downloaded, such as e.g. database software for monitoring medicaldata as well as other application software packages, e.g. softwarepackages for (pre-)processing medical information and/or displaying thismedical information on the display 122 of the mobile phone 112.Nevertheless, these application software packages may alternatively bedownloaded in a separate process, e.g. from a separate download server146.

In step 228, the software downloaded from the download server 146 isinstalled on the microcomputer 120 of the mobile phone 112. Again, thisinstallation may be performed automatically, or may be initiated by theuser, e.g. after giving a separate permission for installation. Afterperforming the installation in step 228, the mobile phone 112 maycommunicate with the blood glucose meter 114 and may uni-directionallyor bi-directionally, exchange information with the blood glucose meter114. Further, the mobile phone 112 may be used in order to controlseveral or all functions of the blood glucose meter 114. Further,optionally, as indicated above, after the installation in step 228, themobile phone 112 may also be equipped to perform communication with themedical care server 150.

In step 230, the patient takes a blood glucose measurement using theblood glucose meter 114. Thus, the patient may apply a blood sample tothe test strip 128 and may initiate the measurement using the keys 132of the blood glucose meter 114. This measurement may be processed by theelectronic components and the microcomputer 130 of the blood glucosemeter 114, and the result of this measurement may be displayed ondisplay 134 and/or stored in a memory and/or database of the bloodglucose meter 114.

In step 232, the mobile phone 112 requests the transmission of a firstmedical information from the blood glucose meter 114 to the mobile phone112. As described above, this first medical information may compriseresults of the blood glucose measurement taken in step 230, or maycomprise data derived from this blood glucose measurement. Other typesof information may be included, such as e.g. the time of the bloodglucose measurement taken in step 230. Further, this first medicalinformation may comprise the data, such as data stored in a database ofthe blood glucose meter 114, e.g. medical data of previously taken bloodglucose measurements. The first medical information is transmitted tothe mobile phone 112 via the infrared connection 138. On the mobilephone 112, the first medical information is stored in a memory, and/orin a database, e.g. a database being stored on the microcomputer 120(step 234). In step 234, additionally or optionally, other informationmay be stored in conjunction with this first medical information, suchas e.g. a time of the measurement and/or the data acquisition, as gainede.g. from an internal clock of the mobile phone 112.

The steps 210 to 234 as described above may constitute by themselves anembodiment of the first method according to the disclosure. The methodmay be optionally extended using the steps 236 to 242 depicted in FIG. 2. These steps allow for an exchange of information between the mobilephone 112 and the medical care server 150. Therefore, in step 236, thesecond connection 148 is established between the mobile phone 112 andthe medical care server 150 via the mobile communications network 118and the internet 142. This second connection 148 allows for exchanging asecond medical information between the mobile phone 112 and the medicalcare server 150. In this example, this second medical information isexchanged in step 238 by sending a second SMS from the mobile phone 112to the medical care server 150, the second SMS comprising the secondmedical information. Other types of information exchange may be used.Nevertheless, the use of SMS provides a fast and cost-efficient way ofexchanging information. The second medical information, as explainedabove, may fully or partly comprise the first medical information.Additionally or alternatively, the first medical information may beprocessed on the microcomputer 120 of the mobile phone 112, and, thus,the second medical information may comprise processed or pre-processedderivatives of the first medical information. Other information may beincluded, such as a user authentication, e.g. a user's identificationnumber and/or a pin number or a password.

In step 240 this second medical information is stored in a database onthe medical care server 150. Thus, this second medical information isaccessible for performing further operations, such as for applyingfurther evaluation software algorithms to this second medicalinformation. These evaluation software algorithms may be run on themedical server 150 or on separate computers, such as the doctor's unit152. Warning functions may be implemented, such as warning functionsgenerating a warning signal for the patient and/or the doctor or othermedical personnel in case the second medical information and/orinformation derived from the second medical information indicates acritical status of the patient. In step 142, the second medicalinformation and other information stored on the medical server 150 maybe accessed via the VPN 154 from the doctor's unit 152. Thus, the doctormay monitor the patient's data and, in turn, react accordingly, such asby notifying the patient of optimum medication.

In FIG. 3 , an embodiment of the second method according to thedisclosure is depicted. As explained above, this method does notnecessarily require the mobile phone 112 and/or the blood glucose meter114 to include interfaces 126, 136. In a first step 310, the patientinitiates a download process by sending an SMS to a service center, e.g.the download server, similar to step 210 described above. In step 312, aWAP Push Message is sent to the patient's mobile phone 112, similar tostep 212 described above. This WAP Push Message is opened by the user instep 314 (see step 214 above). Consequently, in step 316, the mobilephone 112 navigates to the download server 146. The type of thepatient's mobile phone 112 is transmitted to the download server 146 instep 318 (see step 218 above). In steps 320 and 322, permission fordownload and installation is asked from the patient, and the download isinitiated (see steps 224 and 226 above). Thus, in step 322, acommunication software package is downloaded from the download server146 to the mobile phone 112 which allows for establishing a secondcommunication 148 between the mobile phone 112 and the medical careserver 150. As indicated above, other software may be downloaded, suchas database software or software comprising other algorithms formonitoring and/or processing medical data, such as evaluation ordisplaying software. The software is automatically installed on themobile phone 112 in step 324, similarly to step 228 described above.

In step 326 the patient takes a measurement using the blood glucosemeter 114 (see step 230 above). Following, in step 328, the user readsout measurement results from the display 134 of the blood glucose meter114 and manually inputs this information into the mobile phone 112using, e.g., the keys 124 or any other way of data input supported bythe mobile phone 112, such as voice input or input via a touch pad. Thisdata may e.g. be stored in the microcomputer 120 of the mobile phone112, such as in a database. Further, in step 330, the user establishesthe second connection 148 between the mobile phone 112 and the medicalcare server 150 (see step 236 above). Via this second connection 148, instep 332 an SMS is sent from the mobile phone 112 to the medical careserver 150, the SMS containing a third medical information. Similar tothe context of the description of step 238 in FIG. 2 , this thirdmedical information may fully or partially comprise the data of themanual data input of step 328 and/or data derived from this manual datainput. Further data may be transmitted, such as a user authentication.In step 334, this third medical information is stored in a databasewithin the medical care server 150 and, step 336 may be accessed by adoctor using the doctor's unit 152 and a VPN 154.

While this disclosure has been described as having an exemplary design,the present disclosure may be further modified within the spirit andscope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended tocover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using itsgeneral principles. Further, this application is intended to cover suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which this disclosure pertains.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for monitoring medical data comprising:a user initiating a download link between a mobile communications deviceand a download server that has access to a plurality of communicationsoftware packages stored on a memory; exchanging, between the mobilecommunications device and the download server, information concerning atype of the mobile communications device; the user selecting acommunication software package from a subset of the plurality ofcommunication software packages, the subset containing onlycommunication software packages compatible with the type of the mobilecommunications device, wherein the communication software packages inthe subset are configured to control transfer of medical data betweenthe mobile communications device and a portable medical device; usingthe mobile communications device to download the communication softwarepackage from the download server to the mobile communications device;and installing the communication software package on the mobilecommunications device.
 2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein thesoftware package is selected based upon the type of mobilecommunications device and the type of portable medical device.
 3. Themethod as set forth in claim 1, further including the step of exchanginga set of medical data between an interface of the portable medicaldevice and an interface of the mobile communications device, wherein thestep of exchanging is controlled by the communication software package.4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the set of medical datacomprises diagnostic information.
 5. The method as set forth in claim 3,wherein the set of medical data is selected from the group consistingof: glucose level information; cholesterol level information;coagulation information; measuring time; and insulin medication doseinformation.
 6. The method as set forth in claim 3, further includingthe step of storing the set of medical data in a database on the mobilecommunications device.
 7. The method as set forth in claim 3, furtherincluding the step of applying at least one evaluation process to theset of medical data.
 8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein thedownload link comprises a wireless connection.
 9. The method as setforth in claim 3, wherein the step of transmitting the set of medicaldata between the mobile communications device and the portable medicaldevice comprises a wireless data transfer.
 10. The method as set forthin claim 9, wherein the wireless data transfer is selected from thegroup consisting of: an infra-red data transfer; a radio frequency datatransfer; and near field communication data transfer.
 11. The method asset forth in claim 1, further comprising the following steps:establishing an upload link between the mobile communications device anda medical care server; and exchanging medical data between the mobilecommunications device and the medical care server.
 12. The method as setforth in claim 1, further including the step of transmitting anelectronic message to the mobile communications device comprising adownload address defining a download location on the download server.13. The method as set forth in claim 12, wherein the electronic messagecomprises a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) Push Message.
 14. Themethod as set forth in claim 12, wherein the download address isselected from the group consisting of an Internet Protocol (IP) addressand a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).
 15. The method as set forth inclaim 1, further including the step of graphically presenting a set ofmedical data to a patient through the mobile communications device. 16.The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile communications device is amobile phone.
 17. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable medicaldevice includes a blood glucose measurement interface.
 18. The method asset forth in claim 3, wherein the step of exchanging information betweenthe interface of the portable medical device and the interface of themobile communications device uses radio frequency data transfer.
 19. Themethod as set forth in claim 18, wherein the radio frequency datatransfer comprises Bluetooth data transfer.
 20. The method as set forthin claim 1, wherein each of the software packages of the plurality ofcommunication software packages are configured for data transfer betweena mobile communications device and a portable medical device.
 21. Themethod as set forth in claim 20, wherein the subset consists of a singlesoftware communication package.
 22. The method as set forth in claim 1,wherein the subset consists of a single software communication package.23. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein the set of medical datais glucose level information.